Hand Brake, In Gear, Or Both?

Mint Sauce

Your parking your car up for a week or two, which do you do, what if its on a slight slope? I have never been able to get a definate answer.

The closest I got was both, incase the handbrake fails. But I then find if the car is parked for a few days or more, you have to pump the hand brake several times as the line or brakes have slightly seized, other wise you get a bit of a kick at the back when you try or pull away.

Slightlyconfused.com

biko

I never use the handbrake unless it's in a slope.
If parking long term use 1st only and maybe a block behind the wheel.


Note that if you park in a slope, turn the front wheels so that if the car starts rolling it rolls into the kerb.

Paulw

I almost always use both - handbrake and also in gear. I'm normally parked on a slope though.

Henry Ford III

Both.

_Brian

both.

not using the handbrake is like not using the wipers when its raining...just in-case they break

Caliden

Always use the handbrake.

I put it in gear when on a hill.

Goshen

Hand brake and in gear.

Goshen

biko wrote: »

I never use the handbrake unless it's in a slope.
If parking long term use 1st only and maybe a block behind the wheel.


Note that if you park in a slope, turn the front wheels so that if the car starts rolling it rolls into the kerb.

You'd be surprised at what a slight incline can do when no handbrake engaged. My car has previously ended up reversing itself out into the middle of a driving lane in a carpark when the handbrake failed to work. Lucky it didn't drive over a child/person etc. Put it in gear and engage the hand-brake.

whomitconcerns

automatic car so just electonic handbrake!

Special Circumstances

The pub talk version of why not to use handbrake only on an incline:

Allegebly drum brakes are a better hand brake than disc brakes.
Spirited driving then parking up on a slope with handbrake on can catch you out as the discs cool slightly (or something) and the braking force decreases.

I honestly have no idea if this is true or not.

jimgoose

Handbrake on, in first gear. Automatic car, handbrake on, P selected on shifter.

Special Circumstances wrote: »

The pub talk version of why not to use handbrake only on an incline:

Allegebly drum brakes are a better hand brake than disc brakes.
Spirited driving then parking up on a slope with handbrake on can catch you out as the discs cool slightly (or something) and the braking force decreases.

I honestly have no idea if this is true or not.

Apparently the rotors on some cars have a drum in the bell-end (HONK!) with separate shoes in it for the handbrake. Personally I couldn't really see this being much of a problem unless you do a lot of track-days. :pac::pac::pac:

Special Circumstances

jimgoose wrote: »

Apparently the rotors on some cars have a drum in the bell-end (HONK!) with separate shoes in it for the handbrake. Personally I couldn't really see this being much of a problem unless you do a lot of track-days. :pac::pac::pac:

Yeah, I'd say a decent yank would prevent any issues. Might be a two hander job for some ladies if the hill was steep.

jimgoose

This reminds me of an incident involving a 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Mate of mine just left my house, out to his car, the aforementioned S. A minute later he's back at the door, looking sheepish. Apparently the thing won't come out of Park and go into gear. So I go out, walk around it a couple of times, and come up with a crackpot theory.

I was right, turned out the fuse had popped for the electronic parking brake, so when he parked it didn't come on and the two-ton behemoth had settled onto the parking-pawl in the transmission in such a way that the little motor couldn't pull it away again. A quick rock with our two arses against the boot sorted it! :pac:

cletus

jimgoose wrote: »

Handbrake on, in first gear. Automatic car, handbrake on, P selected on shifter.



Apparently the rotors on some cars have a drum in the bell-end (HONK!) with separate shoes in it for the handbrake. Personally I couldn't really see this being much of a problem unless you do a lot of track-days. :pac::pac::pac:

Both my corolla and the wife's x-trail have this rear break setup.

This has the added advantage of not having to wins back the rear calipers when changing the pads

v240gltse

Use both handbrake and leaving car in gear when stopped . better safe than sorry i guess

Chris_Heilong

When I drove manual it was always handbrake and neutral unless I was on a hill in which case it would be handbrake and 1st. Funny some people dont put the handbrake on, afaik it is designed to be used when parking and for emergency stops.

Mint Sauce

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

When I drove manual it was always handbrake and neutral unless I was on a hill in which case it would be handbrake and 1st. Funny some people dont put the handbrake on, afaik it is designed to be used when parking and for emergency stops.

Handbrake for an emergency stop? I'd be scared to send her flying into the nearest ditch of lamp post.

:eek:

madcabbage

Hand brake and in 1st, regardless of where I'm parked.

Senecio

There's a reason why it used to be called a parking brake.

Handbrake engaged, 1st gear selected at all times parked. In addition, wheels turned to the curb when on a slope.

CiniO

I leave car in gear (1st or reverse) and no handbrake when parked on flat.
If on a slope then both gear and handbrake.
At winter time with sub zero temperatures, only gear - no handbrake even when parked on a slope unless is steep.

Ded_Zebra

Handbrake on and in 1st usually. If I'm going to be leaving it for a week or more though I leave it in gear, handbrake off, and something under a wheel. No one wants a stuck handbrake now do they

nd

Handbrake on, in first gear.

copy and pasted.

theShire

Senecio wrote: »

In addition, wheels turned to the curb when on a slope.

That depends on whether you're pointing uphill or downhill.

To prevent car roling into traffic:
Downhill - wheels to curb
Uphill - wheels away from curb

AFAIK there is a law on this in San Francisco

GvidoR

1st gear and handbrake. Sometimes just 1st gear.

mickdw

The op was more questioning what to do for a long spell parked more than just a general query. If parking for an extended time, I would avoid using the handbrake if possible. General, day to day driving, I always leave in gear and handbrake on.
It is true that a handbrake can let go slightly when brakes cool. Most electronic parking brakes automatically adjust for this as the brakes cool.
I believe the handbrake integrated into the rear caliper operating the main brake pads is far superior a setup to those with seperate shoes. Sure you have to wind back the piston but it is by its nature a self adjusting system and there is something very nice about having your handbrake always nice and tight. I hate jumping into a car and seeing the hard brake pointing at the roof.

*Kol*

I only use the handbrake unless the incline is pretty steep. Car hasn't moved from its designated place anytime in the last 20 years. (Will go outside now and the car will be stuck in a wall!!!)

Asmooh

kinda depending, i always use handbrake when parking but on a hill in a gear also.

Asmooh

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Handbrake on and in 1st usually. If I'm going to be leaving it for a week or more though I leave it in gear, handbrake off, and something under a wheel. No one wants a stuck handbrake now do they

if you are going away for a week and your handbrake is stuck you need a better car. Mine was standing in handbrake for months and still worked find.

*Kol*

Asmooh wrote: »

if you are going away for a week and your handbrake is stuck you need a better car. Mine was standing in handbrake for months and still worked find.

I left my camper with the handbrake on over winter and the shoes stuck to the drum. It ripped the lining of the shoes.

Asmooh

*Kol* wrote: »

I left my camper with the handbrake on over winter and the shoes stuck to the drum. It ripped the lining of the shoes.

lol.. never had those issues with none of my cars or projects